Muharram is the Shia Muslim festival in Lucknow that commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet. In other places, Muharram lasts ten to twelve days but, here in northern India’s Lucknow, the festival is extended over two months and eight days.
Shia Muslims gather in the Imambaras and it is not unusual to see men flagellating themselves with chains and blades before replicas of the martyr's tomb, or Taziyas', symbolically punishing themselves for not having been able to defend the martyr. These are few of the popular festivals in Lucknow.
Diwali festival in Lucknow, the Hindu festival of lights, is celebrated enthusiastically all over the world by Indians. In Lucknow festivals, as all over India, gifts that celebrate brightness and joy are exchanged, traditionally clothing, sweets or flowers, and family and friends come together to share special foods that are as much pleasure to prepare as they are to eat.
Cards and gifts are sent to those who will be celebrating Diwali festival in Lucknow away from loved ones and it is customary for everyone to exchange gifts: colleagues, friends, relatives and spouses. This gift-giving and receiving reflects the social obligations of the whole year, to give and receive gracefully. Little lights are placed on every available surface – traditionally it was tiny oil lamps but now absolutely anything that produces a glow, from candles to neon lamps,
can be used! Fireworks are also a common feature of Diwali festival and in Lucknow, capital of India’s Uttar Pradesh region of the north, the secondary theme of the festival is the celebration of the homecoming and coronation of Rama after the defeat of Ravana. Diwali has different secondary meanings in different parts of India but is principally a Harvest festival everywhere. |
